Phil Woosnam

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Alternative Title:
Phillip Abraham Woosnam

Phil Woosnam, (Phillip Abraham Woosnam), Welsh association football (soccer) player, coach, and executive (born Dec. 22, 1932, Caersws, Wales—died July 19, 2013, Marietta, Ga.), helped to popularize soccer in the U.S. as a player-coach (1966–69) and then as the dynamic commissioner (1969–83) of the professional North American Soccer League (NASL). Woosnam began his soccer career as a student at Bangor (Wales) University. He played for amateur clubs in Wales and England, notably Leyton Orient (1954–57) while juggling a job as a high-school physics teacher in East London. He was named Amateur Footballer of the Year in 1955. Woosnam turned professional in 1958 and joined West Ham United before transferring (1962) to Aston Villa. He also appeared in 17 matches for Wales during 1959–63. In 1966 he seized the opportunity to become the coach of the newly established Atlanta Chiefs. Woosnam, who also played for the team, led the Chiefs to the inaugural NASL title in 1968. He also coached the U.S. national team that year. During Woosnam’s tenure as commissioner, the NASL greatly expanded, increasing from 5 to 24 teams and recruiting top international players, including Brazilian superstar Pelé and England’s George Best. Woosnam was criticized, however, for encouraging overexpansion, and the league folded a year after he was dismissed. He later served as managing director of marketing for the US Soccer Federation. Woosnam was inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.